PS 3535 


.079 B7 


1914 


Copy 1 



To My Friends in 
The Maccabean Zion Association 



THE 

Broomstick Brigade 

A PLAY OF PALESTINE 

BY 

SAMUEL ROTH 




NEW YORK 

BLOCH PUBLISHING COMPANY 

"The Jewish Book Concern" 



CHARACTERS 



MR. EDELSTADT 

MRS. EDELSTADT 

REBECCA 

FELIX 1^ their children 

HADASSAH . 

MOSES HESS, a teacher 

MR. COHEN 

BENJAMIN ) ,. ,.,, 

} his children 
RUTH 



SCENE 

A spacious, well-furnished chamber on Herzl Street, 
Jerusalem. 

y 
g)Cl.D 37412 



Copyright, 1914, by BlocK Publishing Company, New York 

. JUN27I9I4 puot 



] : » ■ ;. 



ACT I 



[Enter Rebecca Edelstadt and her mother, Mrs. Edel- 

stadt, the former young and pretty, the latter 

well-built, a zvoman of forty with a kind face. 

Mrs. Edelstadt is preparing to go out. Rebecca 

stands near the window.] 

R. (hurries to the side of her mother) : Oh, mamma ! 

Think of it, Felix and Hadassah are already coming 

home ! 

Mrs. E. : Why that's astonishing. It's not two 
o'clock yet! 

R. : But they're coming ! Hear them clattering up 
the stairs! 

[Felix and Hadassah both burst into the room, Felix 
is a little fellow of nine, quiet and gentle ; Hadas- 
sah is an impetuous, saucy girl of twelve.] 
Mrs. E. : Well, of all earthly wonders! Children, 
what has happened to-day? Has school been closed 
up so early? 

H. : You tell her, Felix. 

F. : Oh, mamma 

H. ! Don't you tell now, Felix, I'll do it ! 
Mrs. E. : Hadassah, you're perfectly rude. But 
what has happened? 



H. : We are simply not going to school any more. 
Mrs. E. : And why, pray ? 
H.: Because, well — we won't! 

Mrs. E. : Hadassah, you're an idiot. Come Felix, 
you tell me. 

F. : It was like this, mamma. Our teacher 

H. : (Goes behind him and pinches him in the back.) 

F. : Oh! (turns around and looks at his sister re- 
proachfully.) 

R. (from window) : Oh, mamma. Moses is coming 
here, too. 

[Enters Moses, a young man, neatly dressed, well- 
built.] 

Mrs. E. : Good afternoon, Moses. Aren't you teach- 
ing this afternoon ? 

M. (smiles at R.) : Good afternoon, Mrs. Edelstadt. 
No, I am not teaching this afternoon. 

Mrs. E. : And why? What sort of a holiday is this? 
M. : It's not a holiday, but the school has gone on 
strike. 

Mrs. E. : Gone on strike ! Why, how absurd ! 

M. : It is not absurd, Mrs. Edelstadt. The children 
have a right to object against being brought up as 
Germans, and we teachers have a right to refuse to 
do it, too. We are not mere hirelings. 

Mrs. E. : Why, how silly you talk ! Who is trying 
to make Germans of whom? 

M. : Perhaps you don't know that the Board of 
Trustees have decided to teach the upper classes of 
the schools in German? 

Mrs. E. : I am well aware of that. 
4 



M. : You should be, since your husband is one of the 
trustees, and the chief at that. 

Mrs. E. : But what has that to do with you ? You're 
teaching a lower class. 

M. : But am I not a part of the institution? 

Mrs. E. : I don't understand, and I will not believe 
that what you say is true. But do you think that we 
will permit a thing of this sort? Children striking, 
indeed ! It's ridiculous ! 

M. : How can you help it? 

Mrs. E. : We won't allow the children to idle around. 
They must return to school. 

M. : But what if there will be no teachers to take 
charge of them? 

Mrs. E. : We will get other teachers. But I cannot 
waste any time now, I must meet my husband. He's 
coming with the next train from Jaffa with a rich 
brother of his who came with two of his children to 
live here. 

F. : Mamma, will you be back soon ? 
Mrs. E. : Yes, Felix, dear. I am coming back soon. 
Mind you, that you don't go to the pantry ! 

[Mrs. E. goes out zvhile Felix and Hadassah retire 
into another room with a great deal of secrecy.] 

R. : Oh, I am so glad to see you, Moses. But, do 
you know, this is liable to get you on the bad side of 
father, against whose decision you're now going. He'll 
think it a bad start for his future son-in-law. 

M. : I don't care. I have right on my side and 
eventually he, too, must see it. 

R. : That's right, Moses. You're a hero. Now let 
us go out for a stroll until mamma and the rest come 

5 



back. Felix and Hadassah, are you in the pantry again ? 
See that you mind the house. [Exit R. and M.] 

H. (comes out wiping her mouth with a handker- 
chief; looks around) : Come here, FeHx, quick! 
[Enters Felix, whose mouth bears very conspicuously 
the traces of jelly.] 

F. : What do you want, Hadassah ? 

H. : Look at your mouth, you stupid ! They'll find 
out that we've been there the moment they look at you. 
Go wash your face, and coming back bring your geog- 
raphy. I am going to sing NES ZIONU. See whether 
you can't he back before I finish. [Exit Felix, hur- 
riedly. She sings, and at the last ivord Felix hounds 
in zvith a big geography in his hand.] 

F. : There, you're not through yet. 

H. : And your face is only half washed. Give me 
that geography. Let's see. This contains pictures of 
the different nationalities. Our cousins are Amer- 
icans. Wonder what they look like! (opens book) 
Racial types, page 16. Here is the American. My, 
what a dreadful face. 

F. : He looks savage. His hairs are as thick as rope. 

H. : And look how his cheek-bones stick out ! Why, 
he's a perfect savage. And, let me see, Indian. Now 
I remember reading a story about these people. They 
throw hatchets at each other when they get mad. 

F. : O-o-o-o-o-oh ! 

H. : And to think that they're our cousins, too! 

F. : No wonder you're so savage sometimes, Ha- 
dassah. It's in the blood ! 

H. : Don't you joke, Felix. They're liable to come 
in here any minute and start throwing their hatchets 
at us! 



F. (looking out) : There's the carriage coming up, 
now. I see a hatchet, quick! (Both run under the table 
zvhich stands in the center of the room.) 

[There is the noise of wheels outside, then footsteps, 
and in come Mr. and Mrs. E deist adt; zvith them 
are Mr. Cohen and his two children, Benjamin 
and Ruth, who in size and years correspond to 
Felix and Hadassah, respectively.] 

Mrs. E. : What is that? No one in the house? 
(Hadassah comes from under the table, blushing, and 
Felix follozvs her.) What does this mean, Hadassah? 

H. : We wanted to surprise you and papa. 

Mr. C. : So these are your children? (He embraces 
both.) 

Mr. E. : Wait till you hear them talk Hebrew, 
brother ! You will then know that you're in the Holy 
Land. 

Mr. C. : Do they talk Hebrew ? 

Mr. E. : What a question ! It's their mother-tongue. 
[Children exit together. The others seat themselves 
around the table.] 

Mrs. E. : Simon, there has been some trouble at 
school to-day. 

Mr. E. : Trouble ? What do you mean ? 

Mrs. E. : In the first place, the children came home 
at one o'clock to-day. 

Mr. E. : How was that ? 

Mrs. E. : The teachers sent them home and told 
them not to come back until they received instructions 
from themx. 

Mr. E. : What impudence ! 

7 



[The door opens and a man in uniform drops a 
letter on a small table near the door.] 
Mrs. E. (takes it) : That may explain it. I recog- 
nize the hand of Moses. 

Mr. E. (opens letter and reads) : It's from Moses. 
He demands in the name of the Hebrew Teachers' 
Union that we reverse that decision to teach the 
higher subjects in German. I never knew that fellow 
was so stupid. My future son-in-law, too, and he is 
going against me already. 

Mr. C. : What does this mean, brother ? 

Mrs. E. : It means impudence ! I am going to dis- 
charge that fellow and break up this insolent bunch of 
puppies who are trying to rule the School with their 
horse-sense. 

[Enter Rebekah and Moses.] 

R. : Are you back already, mamma ? And you also, 
papa? (Embraces both.) 

Mrs, E. : This is your uncle, Mr. Cohen. Meet my 
daughter, brother-in-law. 

R. (shakes uncle's hand) : And meet my fiancee, 
uncle; Mr. Hess and Mr. Cohen. (Moses and Mr. 
Cohen shake hands.) 

Mr. E. : Moses, I have just received your letter. 

M.: Yes? What is your answer to it? 

Mr. E. : I think it is sheer impudence. I discharge 
you right here from further service in any of my 
schools. And unless you apologize to me within 
twenty-four hours you need never again enter my 
house ! 

M. (courteously) : I am sorry that you take it that 
way, Mr. Edelstadt. Good evening! (Exit.) 

R. (goes to her father) : Papa, what have you done? 



Mr. E. : I have rewarded impudence ! 

R. : He is not impudent. He is a true Jew and is 
defending his own language. 

[Enter the children holding hands.] 

Mr. E. : Children, remember ; you are going back 
to school to-morrow. 

H. (walks off) : No, I won't. Do you think I want 
to speak Dutch like you and mamma sometimes speak ? 
(Mimicks.) Shprechen sie Doitch! 

Mr. E. (rises angrily) : Hadassah! 

F. (clasps father s knees) : Papa dear, do let us learn 
our Hebrew. We want Hebrew only ! 

Mr. E. (reseats himself and takes Felix on his knees 
and pats him) : We will, Felix. You will learn He- 
brew, I promise you ! 



CURTAIN 



ACT II 

[Mr. and Mrs, Edelstadt at the Table.'] 

Mr. E. : Where is Rebekah this morning? 

Mrs. E. : She went out with Alexander. 

Mr. E. : I hope he decides to contribute to the In- 
stitute. You know he's so very wealthy. 

Mrs. E. : But rich folks are always so tight-fisted. 

Mr. E. : I hope it won't be so in his case. You know 
there is a good deal of sentiment in his coming here. 
His wife was an ardent, a very ardent Zionist. 

Mrs. E. : You don't say ! 

Mr. E. : And he told me yesterday that it was her 
dying wish that he abandon business and immigrate 
to Palestine. 

Mrs. E. : He's certainly faithful ! 

Mr. E. : But that trouble we are having is likely to 
have a deteriorating influence on his impression of the 
School. I wish those pests had been doing something 
else. 

Mrs. E. : But what can we do? Here comes Hadas- 
sah and Felix. They've eaten up all the jelly. I'll 
give it to them ! 

{Enter Felix and Hadassah.] 

Mrs. E. : Children, I've been to the pantry. 
[They stand thunder-struck.] 

Mrs. E. : Did you hear what I said, children ? 

H. : You said that you had been to the pantry. We 
are waiting for you to tell us something. 

10 



Mrs. E. : Don't you know anything about it, Haclas- 
sah? 

H. {shakes her head). 

Mrs. E. : Don't yoii know anything about it, Felix ? 

F. {imitates his sister s motion in the negative.) 

Mrs. E. : Now I wonder who could have eaten up 
half of the jelly. Was it you Hadassah? 

H. {shakes her head). 

Mrs. E. : Do you perhaps know something about it, 
Felix ? 

F. : {shakes his head). 

Mrs. E. : Now who, I wonder left the jar open and 
forgot to cover it again? 

F. {to Hadassah) : I told you to close that jar, didn't 
I, Hadassah? 

[Mr. and Mrs. Edelstadt laugh.] 

Mrs. E. : Now for that both of you ought to be 
spanked severely. But it's such a beautiful day, I am 
tempted to punish you just by locking up the pantry 
and depriving you of jelly for a whole month. 

Mr. E. {rises from table) : I am going out, children, 
but that is no reason why you should misbehave here. 
{Exit.) 

[Enter Rebekah.] 

Mrs. E. : Why, have you and your uncle returned 
so quickly? 

R. : Only I have returned. Uncle is in the School. 

Mrs. E. : Oh ! 

R. {breathlessly) : Come into the street with me, 
mamma. I tell you it's simply marvellous ! The chil- 
dren all refuse to go to school. Some of them are 
playing games, others have formed singing parties, 
still others have taken their station in front of the 



schools and do nothing but shout and scream at the 
Directors to throw out Dutch ! 

Mrs. E. : That's fearful ! I guess Hadassah and 
Felix had better not go out. 

R. : I tell you it's just glorious. We will win! 

Mrs. E. : We ! Do you sympathize with those 
wretches ! 

R. : Of course I do! It's for the good of the na- 
tion ! 

Mrs. E. : Rebekah ! 

R. : Now, don't get excited, mamma, and just come 
out with me and you too will catch the spirit of it. 
Then you will see the truth as those children and 
teachers see it! 

Mrs. E. (puts on her coat and hat) : I'll go out and 
see. Felix and Hadassah, you must not go out. You 
needn't try to get at the pantry, for it's locked so that 
you couldn't open it if you tried all day. Ruth and 
Benjamin are in the garden. You can call them in 
and play with them. (Exit zvith Rebekah.) 

H. : Now what are we going to do, Felix? 

F. (shakes his head) : We can't get any jelly. 

H. : Can't you think of anything but jelly? Call 
Benjamin and Ruth. 

F. (goes over to the door) : Benjamin! Ruth! 
[Benjamin and Ruth come in.] 

F. : Now what shall we do, Hadassah ! 

H. : I've got an idea ! Don't be so impatient Felix. 
Let me see. That's right. Do you know where the 
old broomsticks are, Felix? 

F. : Yes, they're in the back room. 

H. : Hurry-up and get them ! Quick ! 

F. (runs out). 

12 



H. : Now Benjamin, did you ever fight in your life? 

B. : Once, for a stick of candy ! 

H. (contemptuously): That's nothing to light for! 
And you Ruth? 

Ruth : Little girls should not fight. 

H. : Shucks ! I'll teach both of you how to fight 
when there's something to fight for. 

F. (comes in zvith four brooms, the straws of zvhich 
are very few) : Here you are, Hadassah. 

H. : Felix, give each person including yourself a 
broomstick ! 

F. (gives broom to Benj. and Ruth and keeps two in 
his hands). 

H. : And don't you consider me a person! (Snatches 
one from him.) Now get ready! Shoulder guns! 

Ruth : But we have no guns ! 

H. : Haven't you a broomstick ? Isn't a broomstick 
a gun? 

Ruth (awed) : Oh! 

H. : Now, shoulder guns ! 

F. (in shouldering sweeps Hadassah' s face with the 
straw end of his). 

H. : Ouch ! Look out, you stupid ! You almost 
killed me ! 

B. : But what shall we do? 

H. (recovering) : We shall march to the School and 
demand that they stop speaking Dutch, and if they 
don't obey we'll fire at them with our guns ! 

F. : But Hadassah, we have no guns ! 

H. : Haven't I said that a broomstick is like a gun ? 
Forward March! 

[They march out swinging broomsticks over shoulders.] 
[Enter Mr. E. and his brother.] 

13 



Mr. E. : Well, Alexander, you have seen our schools. 
What do you think of them? 

Mr. C. : The buildings are all right, if you mean 
that. 

Mr. E. : Are you perhaps thinking of these nonsen- 
sical demonstrations? I assure you they shall be 
quelled within a few days. 

Mr. C. : But I sympathize thoroughly with those 
demonstrations and I am wondering how a man with 
your sense can't see that they are perfectly justified. 

Mr. E. : Why, Alexander ! 

Mr. C. : Don't you see, brother, that you are going 
against the spirit of the land? Palestine is the land 
of the Jews. It is sheer impertinence to attempt to 
teach in another language but the language of the 
Jews! 

[Enter Mrs. Edelstadt and Rebekah.] 

Mrs. E. : Oh, you are back already ! Have you been 
to the street! It's simply glorious! 

Mr. E. : What is glorious ! 

Mrs. E. : Why the children all singing Hebrew songs 
and mimicking German! 

Mr. E. : Perhaps you even think they are right ? 

Mrs. E. : And why not? After all, why make chil- 
dren learn a language they despise ? 

Mr. E. : And you Rebekah? You are always so 
sensible. 

R. : I am fully of the opinion of mamma. The chil- 
dren don't want German and it is criminal to attempt 
to force anything on children. 

[Enter Moses and two others.] 

M. : Mr. Edelstadt, we are a committee from the 
Hebrew Teacher's Union. 

Mr. E. : What do you want ? 

14 



M. : We want you to promise to put in your voice 
against the decision of the Institute. 

Mr. E. : But I have already voted for it ! 

M. : You can think better of the matter. 

Mrs. E. {looks helplessly at his brother). 
[Enter H., F., B. and Ruth with broomsticks over 
shoulders.] 

H. : Father, we have come to make a demand ! 

Mrs. E. : By all that's miraculous ! Children, where 
did you get those broomsticks ? 

F. : Mamma, they're not broomsticks. They're guns. 
Ask Hadassah! 

H. {repeats boldly) : Papa, I have a demand! 

Mr. E.: What is it, Hadassah? 

H. : We don't want any Dutch in our schools, my 
army and me! 

Mr. E. {turns to his brother) : What do you say to 
that? 

Mrs. E. : You're beaten. See, even Benjamin and 
Ruth want Hebrew although they've merely gotten a 
smell of it! 

Mr. E. {turns to Moses) : All right, I surrender. 

M. : Then we have your promise ? 

Mr. E. : Yes. 

M. : Thank you. {Goes to the door.) 

R. : Wait, Moses. {She whispers something in her 
father's ear.) 

Mr. E. : Moses, I want to apologize to you for what 
I said last night. I admit that I was too hasty. 

R. : Hurrah ! 

H. {to her army) : Since we can't get a chance to 
fight, let's sing the HATIKVOH. {They sing as the 
curtain goes down.) 

15 




H A T I K V LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

Kol-od ballayvov pn 
Nefesh yehoodee he 
Ulefa-asay mizroch i 
A-yin Itzi-yon tzofi-yo. 

Od lo ovdo sikwo-saynoo, 
Hahkvoh hanno-shono: 
Loshoov I'eretz avo-saynoo 
L'eer boh Dovid chono. 

Kol-od dmo-os may-ay-nay- noo 
Yizloo chgeshem ndo-vos, 
Urevo-vos mib-bnay ammaynoo 
Od ho-rcheem al kivray ovos — 

Od lo ovdo . . . 



Kol-od chomas machmaddaynoo 
L'ay-nay-noo mofo-as, 
W'al churban mikdo-shaynoo 
A-yin achas od domo-as — 

Od lo ovdo . . . 



Kol-od may ha-yardayn bgo-on 
Mlo gdo-sow yizo-loo, 
U-lVam kinneres, bsho-on, 
Bkol hamoo-lo yippoloo — 

Od lo ovdo . . . 



Kol-od shommo alay dro-chim 
Sha-ar yukkas $h'i-yo, 
Uvayn chorvos yerooshola-yim 
Od bas tzi-yon bochi-yo; 

Od lo ovdo. 



